Meet the Producer: Mat Govoni
Lisa and Mat engaged in conversation - Photo and blog by: Claudia De Foe
30th April - The secret to film funding isn't creative genius—it's market data. 📊
What a insightful evening at Screen Presence watching Lisa Wang interview Mat Govoni, producer of the breakout horror hit "Late Night with the Devil."
These intimate industry conversations always remind me why I love the creative community in Melbourne—there's such generosity in sharing the hard-won lessons of bringing projects to life. 🌟
During the Q&A, I asked Mat about the differences in pitch structure when approaching financiers versus distributors at film markets. His insights were absolutely fascinating.
For creatives and storytellers, here are 4 key principles I took away:
1️⃣ Speak the audience's language
Mat leveraged audience segmentation models (Roy Morgan) to demonstrate exactly WHO would watch his film. Screen Australia is increasingly focused on this approach.
2️⃣ Lead with story engine, not plot details
Mat emphasised focusing on the central question your film answers rather than a blow-by-blow of what happens. What's the emotional journey and thematic engine driving everything?
3️⃣ Tailor your pitch to your listener
For distributors, focus on characters and market positioning.
For financiers, address ROI concerns upfront and handle potential objections before they arise.
4️⃣ Do your homework
Mat's pitches succeeded because he studied distributor communication styles and used their own data points to build his case. The preparation matters as much as the pitch itself.
What struck me most was how these principles apply beyond filmmaking—they're essentially the foundation of effective persuasion in any context. As someone who works with people on their visual storytelling, I found these insights invaluable.
If you're working on a film project you're passionate about, Screen Presence hosts regular events with opportunities to connect with industry pros. Worth checking out!
Love catching up with new and farmiliar faces tonight. We enjoyed momo's afterwards. Dumplings seem to be a growing tradition!
